Artificial garland or wreath assembly



Nov. 12, 1963 DUNCAN TONG ARTIFICIAL GARLAND 0R WREATH ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 25, 1961 INVENTOR 75/v6 DUNCAN ATTORNEY Nov. 12, 1963 DUNCAN TON G' 3,110,647

ARTIFICIAL GARLAND OR WREATH ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 25, 1961 s Sheets$heet 2 INV EN TOR Du/vcw/v 7A/c;

Nov. 12, 1963 DUNCAN TONGA 3,110,647

ARTIFICIAL GARLAND 0R WREATH ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 23, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INV ENT OR fiuA/cmv 75A/G ATTORNEY United States Patent 4 Claims. (Cl. 161-31) This invention relates to a garland or wreath construction, and more particularly to garlands and wreaths formed of artificial floral components.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a garland or wreath construction formed of flexible rods of molded plastic material which may be fabricated at low cost and which may be assembled quickly and easily to obtain wreaths of different sizes, or garlands of different contours.

It is another object of the invention to provide molded lengths of plastic rods fitted with integral posts or projections, onto which may be detachably affixed any desired floral components such as leaves, berries, flowers and the like, in order to obtain easily a wide variety of ornamental floral effects.

The invention proceeds upon the principle of molding lengths of flexible plastic rods fitted with laterally projecting posts along the length thereof adapted to have detachably aflixed thereto'any desired floral components, and additionally provided with integrally molded complementary fastening means at the ends thereof so that a plurality of such rods may be connected easily in series, and the opposite ends of one or several of such rods may be interengaged to form a circular garland or wreath, or one of any desired shape or outline.

Other objects and purposes will appear from the detailed description of the invention following hereinafter, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of -a flexible plastic rod providing a core for the mounting of floral components thereon in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a garland or wreath assembly formed of three of the rods of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and in addition illustrating the attachment of floral components to one portion of the periphery thereof, to illustrate the pattern of the components around the entire wreath;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the mode of attachment of a floral component, exemplified by colored berries, to one of the projections extending laterally from the plastic rod;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4, illustrating the attachment of another floral component, exemplified by a plastic leaf, to one of the supporting posts of the plastic rods;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view along line 6-6 of FIG. 3, illustrating the mounting of a plurality of leaves extending in opposite directions from their mounting on a common post;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the integral complementary fasteners at the opposite ends of the flexible plastic rod preparatory to effecting an interconnection between the opposite ends of the same rod or between the juxtaposed ends of two or more rods in series;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the ends of the rods following the turning of the end of the upper rod and illustrating the first step in effecting the interconnection between the complementary fasteners;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the complementary fastening means in a later stage of the assembly;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the complementary fastening means at the ends of the rods in finally engaged position;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention incorporating a different form of complemen- 3,110,647 Patented Nov. 12, 1963 tary fastening means at the ends of the flexible plastic rod;

FIG. 12 is a front elevation of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the complementary fastening means shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in a preliminary stage of effecting the interengagement therebetween;

FIG. 14 shows the completed interengagement of the fastening means shown in FIGS. 11 to 13;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a third embodiment of the invention illustrating another form of complementary fastening means at the ends of the flexible plastic rod;

FIG. 16 is a front elevation of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the complementary fastening means at the opposite ends of the plastic rods shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 preparatory to their interconnection;

FIG. 18 shows the completed connection of the complementary fasteners illustrated in FIGS. 15 to 17;

FIG. 19 is a plan view of a fourth embodiment of the invention showing a different form of integral complementary fastening means at the ends of the plastic rods;

FIG. 20 is a front elevation of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged plan view of the opposite ends of the plastic rod shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 preparatory to their interengagement; and

FIG. 22 is a plan view of the opposite ends of the rods in completely interengaged position.

In the drawings is shown lengths of flexible plastic rods 1, which may be molded in any desired lengths, such as one foot or longer, in order to provide a component for a core of a garland or wreath onto which is adapted to be aflixed any desired floral component such as berries, leaves, flowers, petals, etc. The plastic rod 1 may be molded of any desired cross-section, although in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the same is cylindrical.

A plurality of projections 5, provided with enlarged pointed heads 6, are molded along the length of the rod for the purpose of aflixing thereto floral components. The headed posts 5 preferably extend in opposite radial directions from the longitudinal axis of the rod and are staggered along the length of the rod in pairs of posts alternating with single posts for both opposed series of posts as clearly shown in FIG. 1. In addition, the opposite ends 2 and 3 of the plastic rod are provided with complementary fastening means integrally formed with the rod, in order to make possible the interconnection of a series of rods to obtain a garland or closed Wreath of any desired size, and, in the case of the latter, to eventually interconnect the opposite ends of the length of rods to form a closed wreath which may be of circular or any other desired configuration. Garlands of any other ornamental configuration may be formed by interconnecting a plurality of lengths of rods of the type shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a circular wreath formed of three lengths of the plastic rod illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Green or red berries 8 or berries of any other color, molded of plastic material on stems 8, extending from tubular sleeve 7, are adapted to be aflixed onto the mounting posts 5 and are retained in place by the enlarged heads 6 engaging the upper face of the sleeve 7. Alternatively, plastic leaves 9 simulating holly and other plants, extending from sleeve 7, are adapted to be mounted on some of the posts 5 and retained in place thereon. The sleeves 7' may be of lesser thickness than the sleeves 7 in order to permit the mounting of a plurality of such leaves on a common post, as shown in FIG. 6, and the angularity of such leaves may be varied to better simulate wreaths of natural plants. Also, artificial flowers simulating sweet peas, lily of the valley, and other flowers may be aflixed to the posts 5.

The posts 5 may project in opposite radial directions from the rod 1, or the radial directions thereof may vary angularly at the different lengths thereof in order to simulate more accurately the natural product. Of course, it is not necessary that all of the posts be utilized for the mounting of floral components thereon, and because they are molded integrally with the core and preferably of the same green color, they blend into the appearance of the core.

The particular embodiment of complementary fastening means in FIG. 1 assumes the form of a dumb-bell shaped opening at the flattened end 3 of the core having a larger circular opening 11 inwardly of the end and a smaller circular opening 12 at the outer end bridged by a slot 13 between the openings narrower than both of them. The opposite end 2 is fitted with a pair of longitudinally displaced posts 15 and 16 capped with enlarged heads 15' and 16, respectively.

In FIGS. 7 to 9 is illustrated the mode of interconnecting the juxtaposed opposite ends of two separate rods when several are connected in series, or the opposite ends of the same rod when a closed loop of the same rod is formed. FIG. 7 shows the complementary fastening means at the opposite ends, at the initial stage of the assembly before the inner post 15 is inserted into the larger opening 11. The flattened material at the end 3 yields to some degree by a pressure exerted thereon by the enlarged head 15 when the same penetrates opening 11, as indicated in FIG. 8. Thereafter, the bottom rod 1 is moved to the right so that the shank of the post 15 slides along the slot 13 until this post becomes seated in circular opening 12 of the fastening assembly, and post 16, with the enlarged head 16, is pressed into the opening 11 to complete the interconnection between the opposite ends, as shown in FIG. 10. The successive movement of the parts to effect the interengagement of the ends is indicated by arrows in FIGS. 7 to 9.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a different embodiment of the flexible plastic core 21 for the wreath or garland provided with lateral projections 5 along the length thereof for attaching the floral components thereto. In this construction a ring 22 is molded integrally at one end of the rod 21, and a flexible hook 23, gradually decreasing in cross-section from the end 21' of the rod and terminating in shouldered barb 24, is molded at the opposite end of the rod 2 1. A sleeve 27, which is slidable at the end 21' of the rod, may have molded on its exterior plastic leaves 28, in order to supplement the leaf ornaments adapted to be mounted on the wreath.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the ring 22 on one end is threaded onto the flexible re-entrant hook 23 on the opposite end and is engaged in the bight of the latter, as shown in FIG. 13. Thereafter the sleeve 27 is slid towards the ring 22 until it passes over the sloping end of the barbed hook 24 and beyond the shoulder 24 of the hook, which blocks retrogressive movement of the sleeve 27 by virtue of the flexibility of the hook end and its tendency to spread, as indicated in FIG. 14.

In FIG. 15, the flexible plastic rod 31, molded with laterally projecting posts, is provided with a sleeve 33 at one end thereof and an enlargement 36 at the opposite end thereof, from which protrudes a pair of diverging flexible arms 37 terminating in shouldered barbs 38. As shown in FIG. 17, the complementary fasteners are engaged by pressing the arms 37 together to enable the pointed barbs 38 to pass through the free end of the sleeve 33 until the shoulders of the barbs extend beyond the opposite end of the sleeve 33 whereat they diverge and engage said last-mentioned edge so that unintentional retrograde movement between the rod components 31 is prevented. However, these may be disengaged by press- 4 ing the barbs 38 together so that the shoulders thereof become free of the inner end of the sleeve 33 to enable the disengagement of the ends 31 for the purpose of dismantling the wreath and its re-use in other assemblies.

In FIGS. 19 and 20 is shown a rod 41 with headed posts 5 along the length thereof and flattened terminals 42 and 43 at the opposite ends thereof. A headed post 44 is disposed adjacent to the extreme end of tab 42 and a circular aperture 46 is disposed inwardly thereof. Similarly, a headed post 45 extends from the flattened tab 43 in a direction opposite of post 44, and a circular aperture 47 is disposed in tab 43 inwardly thereof.

The enlarged heads of the posts 44 and 45 serve to expand the apertures 47 and 46, respectively, when interengagement between these ends is effected, as illustrated in FIG. 21, by exerting pressure on the tabs in the directions indicated by the arrows. The completed intercugagement is illustrated in FIG. 22 to obtain an interconnection between lengths of the flexible rod in series, or an interconnection between the opposite ends of the same rod. Of course, the parts may be disengaged by virtue of the flexibility of the material, so that the headed connecting posts may be withdrawn from the respective apertures as they yield to the pressure on the parts.

The flexible plastic wreath components described above present many advantages over similar device used heretofore of metal or wire tapes. These advantages secure from both the facile adjustment of the size and closure of the ends of the wreath as well as the convenient and easy mounting of the floral components thereto.

While I have described my invention as embodied in specific forms and as operating in specific manners for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that I do not limit my invention thereto, since various modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. An artificial garland construction comprising a flexible rod of' plastic material, means on said rod for detachably connecting artificial plant components thereto, and integral complementary fastening means at the ends of said rod for effecting a detachable junction therebetween, said means comprising a dumb-bell-shaped slot at one end of the rod and a pair of headed posts at the opposite end for engagement with the enlarged circular terminals of said slot.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the circular terminal remote from the end is larger than the outermost circular terminal to receive successively the innermost headed post, which is slid to the smaller circular terminal, and then the outermost headed post.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said firstmentioned means comprises a plurality of headed projections extending along the length of said rod in two series in opposite radial directions.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the projections of each series are arranged in closely spaced pairs of projections alternating with more widely spaced single projections, and the projections of one series are staggered with respect to the projections of the other series.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,896,352 Strauss July 28, 1959 3,046,685 Blum July 31, 1962 3,072,986 Lefnaer Ian. 15, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,168,632 France Sept. 1, 1958 1,190,932 France Apr. 6, 1959 1,216,538 France Nov. 30, 1959 

1. AN ARTIFICIAL GARLAND CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE ROD OF PLASTIC MATERIAL, MEANS ON SAID ROD FOR DETACHABLY CONNECTING ARTIFICIAL PLANT COMPONENTS THERETO, AND INTEGRAL COMPLEMENTARY FASTENING MEANS AT THE ENDS OF SAID ROD FOR EFFECTING A DETACHABLE JUNCTION THEREBETWEEN, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A DUMB-BELL SHAPED SLOT AT ONE END OF THE ROD AND A PAIR OF HEADED POSTS AT THE OPPOSITE END FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ENLARGED CIRCULAR TERMINALS OF SAID SLOT. 